Pontoon



; P 1931- s. G. PLUMMER 1,821,320

PON'I'OON Filed Dec. 10, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ya I v %E;;OR.'

ATTORNEY l atented Sept. 1 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT ormer.

SIDNEY G. PLUMMER, F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA roivroon Application filed December 1929; Serial in. 413,052.

Another object of the invention is to provide'a particularly simple means for releasably securing the pontoon sections in operative assembly. p p A; further object of the invention is topro- 'vide for the complete disposal of the aforesaid securing means Within the confines of the pontoon.

Yet another object is to provide a. pontoon of the class described which provides a completely watertight compartment.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription ofga preferredembodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a pontoon embodying the invention. I

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the pontoon at 2-2 in Figure 1. Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the showing of Figure 2.

Figure 1 is an enlarged fragmentary sec- 35 tion at 44 in Figure 2. I a Figure 5 is a plan view showing a pair of the pontoons arranged as a float for a pipe of a pipe line.

Figure 6 1s a partly sectional elevation at 66 in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the sections'ofa number of pontoons nested for shipment.

As particularly illustrated, the present invention is embodied in the structure ofa pontoon 8, the details of which are particularly brought out in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive. In its disclosed form, the pontoon is seen to comprise an elongated hollow shell of circular cross-section tapering from its central portion'to closed and more or less rounded head portions 9 whereby the pontoon sections 11 and 12 defined'at opposite sides of the pontoon center are each of generally frustoconical outline and the pontoon is generally fusiform. The pontoon is divided? at the said center thereofwhereby the said sections 11 and 12 are arranged to be preformedas separate elements. The [sections 11 and 12 are preferably formed of 'metal plate. with the head and side'portions integrally related,

as is particularly shown in Figure 2.

Preferably, andas shown, the two sections 11 and 1 2 are Of'llkGQlltllIlB, and said sections, by reason of their taper, are arranged for nesting with corresponding parts ofadsections is arranged for mutual nesting whereby the sections of several pontoons are arranged to be nested within the space 0ccupied by a single'assembled pontoon. The

'factory-preforming of the sections for "an assembly of the pairs of sections to form the pontoons at the pointof use thereof. Means are provided for detachably securmg a pairof sections 11'and 12 together in mutually sealed and coaxial relation to projacen t nested sections in'juxtaposition, the relation being particularly brought out-in Figure 7. In this manner, a plurality of the H vide a liquid-tight float, the aforesaid means 7 including an annular ring 13 Annular grooves 14 are provided in the axially opposite faces of the annulus 13 for the reception of'the free edges 15 of the sections, it being noted that said edges lack flanges and are imperforate. Packing rings 16 of resilient and water resistant material are engaged in the grooves 14, and said grooves are somewhat wider than the edges 15 whereby a pressing engagement of the edges against the'rings aXia-llyof the annulus 13 permits a lateral spreading of the ring material to somewhat embed the edges, 15 therein and insure. a seal thereat. Preferably, and as shown, the groove sides are angularly related to the plane of the annulus whereby the grooves 14. As shown, the bar 16 is formed with like sections 17 connected by means of a turnbuckle 18 and is detachably fixed at its extremities to the different section heads. As shown, diametrically disposed webs 19 are provided within the section heads 9, said webs being integrally secured to the heads and being coplanar with the pontoon axis. The webs 19 are perforated adjacent their free edges to receive bolts 21 of clevises 22 carried at the rod extremities in threaded engagement therewith. To permit access to the interior of the pontoon for installing, tightening or loosening the rod 16, one pontoon sectlon s providedwith a manhole 23 in the side thereof; as shown, the sections 12 are provided with the manholes, said sections being otherwise the same as the sections 11. Preferably, the opening at the manhole 23 is unflanged whereby interference with the nesting of the sections is avoided. A suitable cover 24 is provided for removable mounting at the manhole 23.

The aforesaid arrangement by which the rod 16 is disposed and concealed within the pontoon cavity is seen'to provide a pontoon having a smooth exterior. Furthermore, the cooperative assembly of the pontoon sections is controlled entirely by the one rod 16 whereby assembly or disassembly of the pontoon may be quickly and readily effected. The present structure is thus seen to constitute a true knock-clown pontoon which may be assembled without requiring skilled labor, the'cooperative useof the tension rod 16 and .annulus 13 replacing riveting or bolting as a ,means for securing the sections together whereby no perforating of the section sides at'the edges 15is required, and the sections are of particularly simple structure. A further advantage of the present structure is seento lie in the fact that the edges 15 of the opposed pontoon sections need not be of exactly equal diameter, thus eliminating any requirement for an exact fitting of the sectionsto each other, as would be required for .riveting or bolting said edges together.

It will now be noted that the present pontoons are particularly intended for use in floating a'dredger pipe line or thelike. A

typical use of:the pontoons is-disclosed-in Figures 5 and 6, wherein a pair of the pontoons 8 is shown fixed together and in parallel spaced relation by means of a pair of yoke rods 26 connected to and between corresponding ends of the pontoons, and provide a float for horizontally supporting a pipe length 27 of a pipe line 28. In the present instance, the pipe length 27 is fixed-transversely across each pontoon at its center by means of a pair of U-bolts 29 engaging the pontoon in their'l'oops' and at opposite sides of the pipe. The bolt ends 31 extend upwardly for engagement through clamp plate members 32 disposed transversely across the pipe. Suitable pillow blocks 33 are interposed between the pontoon and pipe to hold the same spaced and against relative angular movement, and nuts 34 engage the extremities of the upper bolt ends for-releasably clamping the pontoon 8, pipe 27, members 32, and

blocks 33 together in a unitary assembly. 7

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and method of operation will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, andfwh'ile I have described the principle of operation, together with the device which I now consider tobe the best embodiment thereof, I desire to'have itunderstood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made, when desired, as'fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States the following:

1. A pontoon comprising a shell intermediately divided solely transversely thereof to provide a pair of axially-separable sections of frusto-conical and similar outline for mutually nested engagement.

2. Apontoon comprising a generally fusiform shell divided to provide separable sections of like outline for mutually nested engagement with each other and with the sections of other pontoons of like structurein a single assembly.

3. In a pontoon, a shell providing a single sealed cavity and divided to provide separable sections, and means operative entirely within the said cavity of the pontoon to re leasably secure the said sections in cooperative relation.

4:. In a pontoon, a shell divided to provide separable sections, tension means operative between the sections and entirely within'the cavity of the pontoon to releasably secure'the said sections in cooperative relation, and

sealing means at the junction of the said sections.

5. In a pontoon, a shell divided to provide mutually sealed separable sections, tension mean-s'operative entirely within the cavity of the pontoon to releasablysecure the said ment with an adjusted sections in cooperative relation, a said section being provided with an opening afl'ording access to said tension means, and a member removably mounted at said opening to seal the same.

6. In a pontoon, a fusiform shell intermediately divided transversely of the axis thereof to provide axially-separablesections, a separate element interposed between opposed edge portions of the said sections and providing channels for the reception of said edge portions, resilient packing in said channels and compressedly engaged between said edges and element, and a tension member of adjustable length cooperative with and between said sections to releasably fix the same in mutually sealed en agement with said ele degree of pres-sure. In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

SIDNEY G. PLUMMERV 

